Charges dropped against pair in Kellogg man's death
The body of Kellogg man Reed Norris was found behind the building pictured on the right in Kellogg on April 23, 2024. Idaho State Police brought their mobile crime lab (pictured) to assist in the investigation. Norris passed away sometime in the early hours of Sunday, April 21, following a reported altercation with two other men. The manslaughter charges against those men were recently dropped due to a lack of conclusive evidence.
JOSH McDONALD
WALLACE — Charges have been dropped against two California men who were believed to be involved in the death of a Kellogg man in April.
August Mota and Martin Duncan had previously been charged with manslaughter after they admitted to getting into a physical altercation with 28-year-old Reed Norris after the three of them left a bar in uptown Kellogg.
Norris’ body was found two days later behind the building across the street. According to the coroner’s report, the cause of death was a result of injuries to Norris’ head.
According to a statement from Shoshone County prosecuting attorney Benjamin Allen, the charges were dropped due to a lack of conclusive evidence that could be presented if the case went to trial.
“Preliminary evidence revealing a physical altercation between Norris and the defendants constituted sufficient probable cause to hold both defendants as charged while investigators actively pursued search warrants to collect additional information,” Allen said. “As a result of early investigative measures, multiple items were seized from the scene of the incident and in the months which would follow, the Idaho State Police forensic laboratories stretched its resources to conduct DNA testing on a number of relevant items. This fall, investigators were informed that much of the results from forensic testing were inconclusive or failed to yield ascertainable information.”
These results ultimately left the prosecution in a position where it felt it would have insufficient evidence to present at a jury trial, the attorney's office said.
Allen’s office said it consulted with Norris’ family to discuss the situation and ultimately decided the charges would be dismissed in both cases without prejudice, reserving the right to refile each of these matters in the future should additional evidence surface.
“This decision comes as a result of careful consideration of both the family’s desires and the obligations of prosecuting attorneys to ensure that sufficient evidence exists in a case before proceeding forward to trial and pursuing a criminal conviction against any defendant,” Allen said. “Despite the outcome, law enforcement personnel and staff should be commended for their diligent work on this case, and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Norris family.”
If anyone has any additional information relevant to the death of Reed Norris, contact Idaho State Police at 208-209-8670.